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Frankly Zoe Productions' founder R. Zoe Polley's first official foray into film was in her high school film communications class. Though this was her first film, Zoe had fallen in love with movies many years before. From an early age, she lived for Friday nights spent watching USA Network's 'Up All Night' and Saturdays spent watching cruising the cable stations for B-Horror movies. On Sunday, she would read every movie description in the TV guide so she could choose what movies to watch the following weekend. She dreamed of one day making her own movies, but that was all she thought is was... a dream.
After graduating high school, Zoe went to college, majoring in business; but in her heart all she wanted to do was be involved in filmmaking. When she reached her junior year, she decided that college just wasn't working for her, so she dropped out and moved back to the small farming community where she grew up.
Following a few major disappointments and heartbreaks, Zoe decided to make her dream of being a filmmaker a reality. Jumping in with both feet, she worked in documentaries before branching out on her own. Lacking funds for a feature film, she began experimenting with shorts and quickly found her voice.
In January of 2001, after directing several feature length documentaries, Zoe's life took an unexpected turn when her infant daughter Olivia died. Feeling like her creativity had died along with her child; Zoe shelved her projects, packed away her equipment, closed her journals, and decided to simply exist.
Less than six months later, while rummaging through boxes for a charity clothing drive, Zoe stumbled upon Olivia's baby blanket. Bringing it to her face, she drew in the faint essence of baby that Olivia had left behind during her brief life. As she breathed, Zoe's mind raced back to the last time she'd held her child in her arms, and these words formed in her mind...
"Have you ever savored an aroma that brought you back to a certain time or place..."
Blanket still in hand, she rushed to find a notebook or a scrap of paper. She sat down and wrote what would later be her short titled "Grape Bubble Gum".
In the following months, Zoe continued to write and re-established her ties to the filmmaking industry. Finding support from her friends and loved ones, she wrote several shorts and two feature length screenplays.
Inspired by the impact the loss of a child had on her life and the lives of those she held most dear, Zoe decided to return wholeheartedly to filmmaking. Feeling that her previous documentaries lacked her distinct 'voice', she refocused on making movies that express life in its truest form, not glossed over. Hoping that her experiences might speak to the hearts of a larger audience, she founded Frankly Zoe Productions. In 2002, TL Carroll joined the Frankly Zoe Production family.
Zoe currently works as a producer and director. She runs a Youth Summer Movie Project in her community and the surrounding area. She is the director of the Frankly Film Fest, which is in its second year. She also produces a weekly live radio talk show.
copyright 2005 frankly zoe productions